Eat Papa! Eat!

(disclaimer, I didn't post this one before heading to the cottage- cottage stories are coming soon)

There are certain Christmas movies that just make the season for me. My mom was in love with "It's a Wonderful Life", I've always been partial to the Christmassy cartoons- but I'd still sit down every year and watch that one with her. I think of her when I watch it now. This year I didn't really get around to watching any Christmas specials...

Anyway, for me it was the Disney "Silly Symphony" Christmas special. It was getting old when I watched it as a kid, but it was the thing that brought me into the Christmas Spirit. A few years ago I posted my favourite short, I'd spent years trying to find it... I'm posting it again.  Jump to 6:25 for the "Night Before Christmas" portion.



The stop frame animation Christmas specials were also a huge favourite of mine. Rudolph being the all time best.
At work when we want to encourage one of our individuals to eat his supper, we quote it "Eat papa, eat! No one wants a skinny Santa".

Skinny Santa is what I call this one guy that I see in town. He's an older man in his 60's with a long flowing beard. He's a runner. I totally yell (in my head) "Eat papa, eat!" when I see him.
The other day I saw him jump the plastic fencing around a construction site while he was running. We've gotten a good amount of snow here this week, and he high stepped his way to the fence and bounced over it.

I giggled.

But I laughed HARD out loud when I saw him high step his way to the porta-potty on the other side of the construction site.

no.

I've JUST realized that there's only one week left till Christmas.

It made me swear when I realized it.

Guess who hasn't decorated or done much in the way of anything to make the house feel christmassy?
This gal.

The top 1/3 of my Christmas tree is sitting on my couch. I didn't want to move any furniture or put much effort into prep this year- I feel like most free moments are dedicated to sewing.

Maybe I'll plug the tree (top) in tomorrow.
Get some comfort and joy flowing.


One of the Friendlies* and I have the same birthday. We commented today on the fact that we didn't get snow for one of the first times in our lives.
WHERE'S MY SNOW?




*Friendlies aka hotfarmerboys aka victory garden boys. 

Little Fan

I loved watching the faces of the kids in the audience during this show. The excitement in their eyes when the dancers would take the stage... the CRAZY EXCITEMENT when Santa would walk out (even when Santa couldn't remember his lines) (every time)... I loved watching their little eyeballs track back and forth following the dancers, or the little ones who would lean over to squeal into the ear of their parent "can I take dance lessons?"

Those moments were the best part of this show.

I spent some time during today's matinee wondering what the kids were thinking during the show. How many of them will end up having this be a tradition? Each year coming back to watch the Parkettes and hear the carolers? How many of those kids will watch each year, waiting for the time when they'll be old enough to audition? How many will have this show to mark the moment that makes the Christmas season come alive for them?


The show ended and a million and twelve children rushed Santa. I wondered aloud to a cast member if Santa had the "pee proof" pants on that afternoon.

Then I saw a cast member lean down to scoop his adorable 8 year old cousin (my uke student) into his arms... only to watch her ignore him completely, push past him, and rush to give me a giant hug.
Love that girly.
Feels like Christmas!

Uke it Up

NUkeO got together and filled our pub to the max last night.

Instead of trying to tell you about it, I'm going to steal PaSheff's photos. Some large group play-alongs, and some great solos, and instant bands... Much more happened, but then our resident photographer and his wife were hit by the flu bug and had to go home.

I love hosting this weird little group.

Fun things

So there are a few fun things in the works, the big one- Christmas in the park opens tonight. Here's a teaser video shot last week- I'm the one forgetting what line we're singing then rolling my eyes at myself...



The other thing is a little online endeavor, I've been sewing under the name "Bad Bunny" for about a year now... you can probably guess why- this week he chewed the phone recharger- he's not generally a chewer. This was a new trick, along with that other new trick where he goes up on the kitchen table and pushes everything off of it? Ya.

Anyway, I'm trying to be a little more proactive in "selling myself" and the things I make. Soooo, I bought a domain name. I haven't paid for it to be hosted anywhere yet, so currently there's a simple free page that came with the domain purchase. For now it's a start. A big one for me.

Bad Bunny Fibre Arts can be found here. 

Dress

We've been running full dress all week for the opening of "Christmas at the Park Theatre". It's our version of the radio city Chirstmas special... with the previously mentioned "Parkettes" instead of the "Rockettes".

Um... I've been calling them the "Perkettes" (read the post from two days ago)

Last night we even had Santa (aka The Town Crier, aka Tom) in costume... he's just been lumbering out from the audience in past rehearsals in jeans and a sweatshirt.

I'd invited the individuals (and accompanying staff) from where I work to come and watch the dress (rehearsal) last night. They gave us some really great energy while we were up there- singing loudly and clapping with excitement. I think there was some confusion when we started singing happy birthday to Santa (it was Tom's birthday), but they took it all in stride. I loved that every time I looked back to where they were sitting someone would start waving frantically at me.

Bitter sweet. This will have to be my last show due to the changes with work. I won't be able to attend any rehearsals with the new schedule. Unless I  find a director who's really lenient and allows me to show up an hour late every evening.

A shot from this week... I'm behind one of the pineappley things- (AMAZING headdresses by Lisa... based on one of the 12 days of Christmas! The girls have to walk sideways to fit thru the door!)

Toasty Toes

I'm in high gear for Christmas crafting.
Actually, maybe it's the coffee...

Either way, slippers are being hand sewn and YOU could give those slippers to your favourite persons. Just $25! A real deal!

So, if you live in Northumberland or Ptbo, you should email me at ladylesley at hotmail dot com and place an order.

Look how cute those are! Your loved ones NEED them.

When you start laughing and can't stop?

SHAKING WITH LAUGHTER

That's what I've been doing with this play. Oh, it's not a funny play... it's a Christmas cantata, or... rather, it's the 'Burg's version of the Rockettes... except that it's the "Parkettes" and they're like 13 years old, so we all feel pervy watching their legs.

Seriously, doesn't matter if you're into boys, you can't help but love the Parkettes' legs... well, until you remember again that they're 13.. Then you want to lock yourself up.... but even then it's like "oh my gosh lock me up, look at those gams!"

That's not why I've been laughing though. There are a few scenes where we're to be in our "family groups" while there's not much room on stage- those leggy colts take up a lot of room with their giant costumes and fancy moves. So, in order to keep the distance between the family groups and still give space to the dancers... we squish into a corner. The other night we squished, and the director could be heard from the back of the room "your family group is too wide". Which I took to be a direct statement about my hips. Then he comes flying onto the stage and shuffles us together, placing me in the neck pit of a fellow singer, my hands in the crotch of another singer, and pushes poor neck-pit back so she's totally body to body with me... so not only am I singing into the base of her scalp, but she can feel every breath. The music starts... and all I can do is stand there and laugh. Which of course makes poor neck-pit laugh... and we shake through the entire song.

We're just going to back up out of the way from now on.

the daily

Before the book of face, I had a list of about 20 blogs and websites I needed to visit each day- in order to reach out and find that connectivity I so badly craved.

Now? I have 5. My email, twitter, hotmail, facebook... and the heart and stroke calendar draw page! Oh my gosh, best Christmas gift to receive (I mean other than perhaps a pony). Each day there are three draws for $5,000. Once a week, a draw for $10,000. Once a month, $100,000... Let's not forget the occasional $25,000 holiday draw!

I'm not a winner yet, but I'm holding out hope.

And a plan to purchase a 3 pack of calendars for myself next year.

favourites

My favourite hobbits came home last night, which is lovely... but it meant their house sitter had to go back home. *sigh*

Since the hobbits were settling back into their schedule, and everyone else seemed to be doing other things... I found myself with no choice.

I put on an audio book, I opened a can of Rekorderlig (red berry), and I took down the Christmas tree.

The house looks funny now. And I miss the twinkle lights lighting... I may have to buy one of those paper lamps and fill it with twinkles... just for the glow.

Drawing near....

What's that under the tree? Miss Jelly, her toys, some cookie tins waiting to be filled, 2 ukes and the autoharp. Pretty much picture perfect if you ask me.

chilly bike ride...

I'm just sitting at the kitchen table, Ohana in my lap- trying to pluck out Christmas tunes, when the phone rings....

it's George.

lovely George.

of the George's Guitars.

and he says....

my Banjolele is nearly fixed!!

so, I hop on my bike and race down the frozen street to give her a little try....

she looks so pretty!!!

he's just going to dress up some of the wonky frets, and she should be ready to play by next week!

lost

it's been nearly 2 weeks since I sat down to write. I've got about eight hundred random stories... lost to my sieve like mind.

so, instead I'll leave you with this....

The snow is falling, the wind is blowing, the twinkle lights are twinkling, the bunny is dancing- trying not to chew on the presents sitting under the tree, I've got a cup of tea steaming on the table, and a big ball of wool... it couldn't really get much better...

Christmas shopping is pretty much done, and now I just have to finish with this project and sew up the last few items...

life is good.

all grown up

I splurged.

I've been intending to make this purchase for the past few years, and each year I put it off till it's too late, and they are all sold out..

I am a grown up, with matching Christmas decorations, accented by family favourites and childhood silliness. 

Just when I was thinking I'd like to get rid of all my "stuff"... I find some stuff makes me happy.

back in time... waaaaaay back

for years I've been looking for a certain Christmas special.

seriously for years... I started when I was around 18... checking in at the local video store, asking the owners if they remembered it. (They did, but didn't know the name of it)

This was in the days before Google.

These are the days of Google, so for the past few years, I've been googling "Christmas specials old" "Disney Christmas specials night before Christmas" and "mama dolls decorate the tree"

all for naught.

Growing up, we'd watch all the Christmas specials we could find. Grinch was right up there. The animated Rudolf, old saint nick, chipmunks, Micky, Muppet's.... the list goes on. But the one I loved most was the one where the night before Christmas played... Santa went down the chimney, and let loose the bag of toys who proceeded to decorate the tree while a dozen little kids slept. Images that stuck out in my mind the most... the dolls that say "mama" marching along (floppy falling over) in time to the tin solders playing their trumpets.... the fire engine pumping fake snow onto the branches.... Santa using a tiny umbrella in the toe of a torn stocking so it would hold the toys... and the blimp dropping the star on the Christmas tree....

It was remembering the blimp that helped me find it on Friday night... "Christmas special Disney night before Christmas blimp" went into the google bar... and I came face to face with the 1932 Merry Melodies Night Before Christmas.

It was taken off the air because of one scene where a little boy looks up into the fireplace and gets covered in soot from Santa squirming out... the result is the little boy looking like he's in black face until a puppy licks his face clean. It was considered "ethnic humour" and a little too racy for TV.

Enjoy! Seriously, this brings me back... (click the pic)

Merry indeed

Christmas was lovely...
And as a special gift to myself, I've spent the last 20 hours on the futon alternating between sleep and movies, gorging on a pizza and drinking jugs of water. Next on the list, an afternoon at the Bean...
ahhh.. I love vacations.

BUT on the movie front.... RENT "ONCE". That's all I have to say. (well, I've MUCH more to say on the subject, but I'll not do the film justice, AJ gives it a good little run-down, read his version.) (even if you only have time to listen to the soundtrack.... here).
Also watched "Evan Almighty" meh.. not so great. And three episodes of season 4 Sopranos.

oldie but a goodie

this is the look we were going for.... instead my arms are scratched.
For some reason this is looking kinda pixal-y, might be this crazy computer... I'll see if it can be fixed when I get home.

Merry Merry

Merry Christmas everyone! (it's one minute after midnight and Christmas day will be arriving shortly...)

The past week has flown by, and I'm still wondering if I'll get the last few presents wrapped...
I keep forgetting little pieces of presents and cards in random places... Thankfully, Christmas doesn't rely on me being organized in my giving.

So happy birthday Jesus.
Thank you for giving me what I've got. For blessing me and my friends. And for the incredible people in my life. I have so much.

uh oh

Chirstmas is days away.
When will I have time to wrap everything?

I wonder what my boss would think if I were to bring everything to work with me on Monday?

12 days... like none other.

well, the count-down is on, my shopping is... near finished I think.
Most of my bedroom is packed (I did get rid of a lot of stuff, and I found three sweaters I forgot I had)...

Generally I don't consider it the Christmas season till I've had "Christmas in the Tub"... an annual event that has me singing Christmas carols along with the Nylons at the top of my lungs while enjoying a long hot bubble bath. The bubble bath is packed, and the Nylons are only on my computer this year... I think though, that this video has brought the Christmassy feeling to my heart..... enjoy!